Nut lock



Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED ,s'rmlzs CHARLES MCDOUGALL, OF'ALIENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

NUT Loox. 4

Application ined March 7, 1927.` serial No. 173,336.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in nut locks and has for its primary object the provision of an unique selflocking nut and improved means to release the nut when necessary or desirable.

t Another object of the invention is to construct a nut lock including a bolt having a longitudinal ratchet groove providing av ratchet for coaction `with a plurality of spring actuated pawls distributed about a nut and housed in slots communicating with the'bore of said nut, the pawls and their associated springs being protected by a cap, cover or' shieldremovably mounted on'the nut.

A further .obj ect of this invention isto so construct the pawls as to hold them against longitudinal movement in one direction and therefore assist in preventing accidental displacement thereof. n

A still further object of my'invention is to provide for lubricating the working parts of the device. i

lVith these ends in view, this invention consiste in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims..

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may under-v stand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, fori'ning a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of the nut lock constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2, is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of` Figure 2.

Figure 1, is an springs.

Figure 5, is a face view thereof. Figure 6, is a face view of one of the pawls. Figure 7, is an edge view ofthe same. Figure 8, is an end view ofthe bolt. Figure 9, is a side elevation of the bolt. Figure 10, is a pawls and springs removed. l

Figure 11, is a side elevation of said nut. Figure 12, isa plan view of they cap, cover or shield. l

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 15 represents a bolt having two longitudinal grooves 16, formed in the threaded' portion thereof, one of the walls of each groove being radial to produce a ratchet 17 while the other wall is curved and gradually.

'threaded bore 2O of the nut. preferably run the entire height of the'nut, hut it will be obvious that they might be ofv less edge view of one of thek l so as to form communications with the slots 19 whereby` the springs and pawlsmay be lu` plan view of the nut with the merges into the` circumference of the bolt body or shank.

A nut 18 of desirable or suitable configura-'l tionl is threadedupon the bolt l5 and has radial slots -19 longitudinally thereof and. reX- K tending from or in communication 'with the The slots 19 length andthe depth of said slots is governed K- bythe size of the parts'used therein allowing for movement of said parts.

In the slots 19 are slidably mountedpawls 21 normally forced `outward by the flat low springs also within the slots and the upper ends of said pawls are provided with finger-s 23 which rest on shoulders formed by of the slot 19 and prevent accidental displacement on one direction'.

To obviate the chance of displacement in the opposite direction and therefore hold the pawls in place a cap, cover or shield 24 is mounted on the nut so as to cover the outer ends of the slots. This cap has a hole for registration witlrthe bolt and is provided with bendable tongues .25 in spaced relation about its periphery for forcement into the undercut holes 26 distributed about the outer face of the nut. I

In order to remove the pawls to permit removal of the nut from the bolt, recesses'QT are formed in the outer face of the nut in the region of the `slots sothat said recessescross `outwardly vextendingangular` continuations f the outer ends of said slots, then by inserting the nose of a pairof pliers in any recess the desired pawl may be gripped and withdrawn lengthwise fromr its slot. o

`f Radial oil holes 28` are produced in the nut bricated when desired and since it is preferred that said oil holes be formed in the corners of the nut said corners may be notched In practice the nut is first run upon the bolt a short distance and the pawls with vtheirfassociated springs inserted in the slots 19 after e the nut is obtained,but any retrograde move- `ment will be prevented and therefore the nut can not become yaccidentally loosened.y

Should it be necessary or ldesirable to remove the nut from the holt, the cap 24 is disconnected from the nut and the pawls Withdrawn by pliers or other suitable tool.

Ott course7 l do not Wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as they may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departn ing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what l claim as new and usei'ful is Vl. A nut lock comprising a holt having longitudinal ratchets, a nut threaded on said bolt and having a plurality of radial slots communicating with the bore of said nut, the slots having angular continuations at their outer ends, said nut further ha.'ing recesses 'formed in the outer face thereo'li in the region of the slots, pawls slidaloly mounted in the slots with their upper ends projecting into the recesses to permit access to said npper ends of the pawls, lingers on the upper ends the pawls extending into the angular continuations of the slots, springs also mounted .in said slots to normally force the pavvls inwardly, a cap mounted on the outer face ot the nut to enclose the pavvls and hearing on the pawl fingers to assist in guiding the pawls, said cap having a hole concentric with the bore of said nut, tongues projecting from the cap and bendahle for insertion in undercut holes in the outer face of the nut.

2. The structure set 'forth in claim l, wherein the nut has oil hole-s formed therein comn'iunicating with the slots and with notches in the outer suriace of said nut.

3. A device of the kind described comprisling` a holt having longitudinal ratchets, a nut `hreade'd on said holt and having a plurality of radial slots communicating with the bore of said nut the slots having angular continuations at their outer ends, said nut 'further having recesses formed. in the outer face thereo't' in the region of the slots, paWls slidahly mounted in the slots with their upper ends projecting into the recesses to permit access to saidupp-er ends ot the pawls, lingers,

on the paivls extending into the angular continuations ot the slots, springs mounted in said slot-s to nermally force the pavvls inwardly, and means detachably mounted on the nut and hearing on 'the pawl lingers to prevent accidental displacementot and assist in guiding the pawls.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto aflined my signature.

oi-rAs. MCnoUGALL, 

